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With Yuji Kaneko, in Kaneko Store — With *Yuji Kaneko*, in Kaneko Store

Yunohira Onsen "Kin-no-yu" / "Gin-no-yu"

We visited Yunohira Onsen “Kin-noyu” in Yufuincho Yunohira, Yufu, Oita. It is one of the five public bathhouses in Yunohira Onsen, which is situated at the top of the stone-paved path.

There is a box at the reception. Put the entrance fee into the box to get in the bath.

The dressing room is simple. Although it’s not new, the room is well maintained and clean.

The bathtub is made with a cement and filled with subtle cloudy hot spring water. This is the oldest public bathhouse in Yunohira Onsen, and is nicely aged. According to a historical record, this hot spring existed in the Heian period, and was opened by the regional lord Fujiwara no Hidekatsu for the normal citizens.

The water type is chloride spring and the water is said to be good for stomach flu. In the past, it is said that gold treats stomach flu, hence this hot spring was named as “Kin no yu” (Gold hot spring). Actually, some people dug the ground around the hot spring source to seek for gold.

Yutaka is 73 years old and comes to Kin no yu every day. He was born and has been living in Yunohira.

You can go down the stone-paved path to get to another public bathhouse called Gin no yu.

The water type of Gin no yu is simple thermal spring. In the past, bathers said that the deposited white minerals swaying in the bath are looked like silver shining in the water, hence this hot spring was named as “Gin no yu.” (Silver hot spring)

A local man recommended us to go to Kaneko Store to know the history of Yunohira Onsen. So, we moved to the store.

He is Yuji who is the current and third owner of the history of Kaneko Store. He is really knowledgeable about Yunohira Onsen because his father made a chronicle of this town. He actually taught us a lot of information about this hot spring even though we suddenly visited him without an appointment.

Finally, there is another must-do activity in Yunohira Onsen. If you visit this small town, you should take a walk in the stone-paved path which was established in the Edo period. In the night, the path is lighted up with Japanese lanterns called Chōchin and is filled with the nostalgic atmosphere. Walking this path with Yukata may be an unforgettable experience.